Tag: #preston

I have got to know a lot of London train stations and today I took the tube from Park Royal to Green Park, then Green Park took the Victoria Line to Euston Road then Euston Road National Rail train to Preston. I left Park Royal at 10:30am and arrived at Preston 2:35pm. 360kms later and I have a return ticket back to London on 1 April 2022, total cost 104GBP. I procrastinated 10minutes and it was 78GBP. I will hit the buy button quicker in future. I am staying in the Quality Apartments Preston and they are a 4 minute walk from the station. I paid 10GBP for a taxi, not realising how easy the walk is from the station. Not cobblestone footpath, no stairs, only a slight slope to push my bag. When going back to the station I will be walking.

I went for a little explore and to buy some groceries as I am staying put for 9 days and I have a kitchen!! First stop I found a Wallace and Grommit statue! I didn’t realise that is where creator of this much loved animation, Nick Park, hails from.

Then down the road a more sombre memorial to the Preston Martyrs who were shot by soldiers during the cotton workers strike of 1842. The drinking establishment in the background was named after this sad reminder of the year of the shooting.

The next day I woke to 20 degrees celsius. The first day in the UK I didn’t wear my big Arctic jacket. I walked past people saying “I can’t believe I turned on my car air con today”!! What a glorious day to explore Preston.

I was surprised by pretty Winckley Park.

And then I walked down to Avenham Park. Wow! I love the Japanese Garden and all the people out playing ball, slack lining, picnicing and just cuddling with the ones they love.

At the Continental Hotel met this lovely couple Charlie and Kirsty (she prounounced it Kursta to my uneducated ear). I also made a dyslexic error looking for the Piddle River which is actually the Ribble River. Have a giggle over that one. I enjoyed a Jaffa Cake Rum. I had to try it as I love Jaffa.

Finished off the evening with some Trivia at the Black Bull Fulwood with a cruise friend, Peter. I met Peter on the Transpacific cruise in November 2019, just before Covid-19 stopped all our fun. Peter has written a book “This Boy“. Can you see where I am in it?